With more tourists visiting Japan than ever, the usual spots in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyoto are crowded as heck. The Japanese government is encouraging more visitors to spread their wings and see more of the country. Which raises the question: Where should you go?
Hotels.com recently ranked the five best-hidden spots for travel in Japan. The ranking’s based on an uptick in bookings to areas that don’t fall within the company’s top 10 ranking. While geared toward a domestic audience, there are some real gems here for foreign travelers looking to experience Japan away from the madding crowd.
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#5: Nagasaki
Of course, Nagasaki is known worldwide for the tragedy it suffered during World War II. Besides offering lessons in history, however, the city on the island of Kyushu is also a rich hub of Japanese culture and cuisine.
Besides the Peace Park and Nagasaki Atomic Bomb Museum, sites such as the Nagasaki Ropeway, the one-legged torii gate, and Unzen Jigoku – what one of our writers called “possibly the most horrific and depressing” jigokudani in Japan – provide a ton of Instagrammable opportunities. The city is also host to some magnificent festivals, such as the Lantern Festival in January and February.
If you’re into history, there’s a ton of it in Nagasaki. The city was home to Dejima, the island that was Japan’s sole port of trade for most foreigners during the country’s isolationist period in the Tokugawa era. Dejima is where Japan first discovered coffee, beer, bread, and Italian pasta, among many other Western imports.
Official travel website: Discover Nagasaki
#4: Kobe
If you have the chance, you shouldn’t pass up the chance to eat actual Kobe beef in actual Kobe! Besides the good food, the city to the west of the much more crowded Osaka offers a number of stellar attractions, including Ikuta Shrine, the Port Tower, and a host of Western-style buildings highlighting the area’s long history.
You can enjoy a comfortable stay at one of the area’s many onsen. Kobe is also a good hopping-off point for a day trip to Himeji, which hosts one of Japan’s most popular castles.
Official travel website: Feel Kobe
#3: Nagoya
Poor Nagoya. Its lack of preserved history means the city – Japan’s fourth-largest – gets little foreign tourist love.
But therein lies opportunity. Besides Nagoya Castle and the nearby Ghibli Park, this city in Aichi Prefecture also sports Legoland, Tokugawa Garden, and the Toyota Commemorative Museum. You can enjoy some local cuisine while you’re there as well, such as the area’s famous Taiwan ramen (not created in Taiwan!) and miso-katsu. Events such as the World Cosplay Summit in August make the city a seasonal draw.
The best thing about Nagoya? It’s relatively cheap – even for Japan – and uncrowded.
Official website: Visit Nagoya
#2: Niigata
In 2024, the beautiful Niigata received a World Heritage Site designation for Sado Kinzan. The world’s largest gold and silver mine, the site has a rich 400-year history. During the winter, the area is known for its good skiing. During the spring, summer, and fall, you can enjoy a lovely bike tour through Niigata Prefecture’s beautiful natural landscapes.
If you’re a nihonshu (Japanese sake) fan, you’re in luck, as Niigata is home to some fantastic breweries. In terms of sites, outside of the Sado mine, you can take a short day trip to Tokamachi to see the Kiyotsu Gorge and its breathtaking Tunnel of Light – a must-see spot for visitors to Japan.
Official website: Enjoy Niigata
#1: Izumo
I could talk about Izumo until I’m blue in the face. While this area does have tourist traffic, it’s still a relatively undiscovered gem.
An hour’s flight from Tokyo, Izumo is home to the historic Izumo Taisha, where all of the gods of Japan are said to gather every October. The shrine is famous as a spot for celebrating enmusubi, the binding together of two people’s destinies. You can also visit numerous other shrines, such as Saka Shrine, which is said to be the birthplace of sake brewing.
Outside of Izumo Taisha and the related Inasa no Hama, you can enjoy one of the area’s most famous delicacies – Izumo soba, a tower of soba noodles, and one of Japan’s “big three” styles of soba. You can stay in luxury in the nearby town of Matsue and its wonderful Tamatsukuri Onsen village.
Official website: Visit Izumo – Glimpse of Japanese Mythology
See the lesser-seen sides of Japan
Looking for other ideas? Check out our past articles on destinations such as Morioka, Katsuyama, Kanazawa, Yamaguchi, and Toyama.
Want to create a truly “unseen Japan” trip? Want a guide to spots you otherwise couldn’t access as a tourist? Contact us at Unseen Japan Tours – we’ll help you put together a custom itinerary complete with interpreted guiding.
Discover the “unseen” side of Japan
Japan is on everyone’s travel bucket list. Sadly, many end up going to the same places as everyone else. That can turn what could have been a fun, once-in-a-lifetime experience into an exhausting battle with crowds.
We started Unseen Japan Tours for the same reason we started Unseen Japan: To give people a unique glimpse into Japan they can’t get anywhere else. Let us create a custom itinerary of hard-to-find spots centered on your interests. We can also serve as your guides and interpreters, taking you to places that non-Japanese-speaking tourists usually can’t access.
Contact us below to get the ball rolling today!
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